“What we think is best for the team is for me to go back to the outfield,” said Myers, who began his career as an outfielder, moved to first base in 2016 and moved back to the outfield to start 2018 before finishing the season as the Padres’ third baseman.

Myers’ pronouncement, coming at FanFest and following a recent meeting on the topic with Padres manager Andy Green and General Manager A.J. Preller, essentially confirms something else.

The Padres will be motivated to move one of their top six outfielders sooner than later, possibly during spring training and almost certainly before the trade deadline.

“Other clubs know we have some elite-caliber outfielders,” Preller said later Saturday. “I’m sure that will be the focus of some other teams throughout the year.”

Many of the Padres’ young outfielders were parts of trade discussions of varying seriousness late last season and this offseason.

Padres FanFest 2019, January 12, 2019.

(Howard Lipin)

The Padres decided there was no deal worth consummating, especially since they don’t yet know exactly what they have in those players. So they shifted their plan to seeing how Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes build on their outstanding final couple months of 2018. They are also hoping this is the season in which more clicks for Manuel Margot at the plate and on the bases. The expectation is Franchy Cordero, who missed the final 3½ months of ‘18 following elbow surgery, will push for regular playing time. Travis Jankowski might be the most entrenched of all the outfielders due to his ability to plug in defensively and on the base paths late in games.

Myers, too, was an object of interest by other teams. But the proposals generally required the Padres to take on salary of a veteran player they didn’t think was as valuable as their 28-year-old nomad.

Myers played the final month-and-a-half (36 games) of ’18 at third base, which was understandably a bit awkward at times, in that he had never played there in the majors and took on the endeavor with minimal practice in the lead-up.

The Padres felt the time was right for such an experiment. They now feel they gave it enough time.

So, oh yeah, they need a third baseman.

Acquiring one has been the primary focus of their offseason – especially over the past several weeks, after they came to an internal consensus that Myers is better served (and better used) as an outfielder.

The Padres could still bring in free agent Mike Moustakas, though his age and projected salary do not seem to fit their plans. They also continue to be mentioned as a landing spot for the Maikel Franco, who the Phillies are looking to trade.

The Padres’ preference would be a top young player to grow with the young players they already have. Among the options they have explored are deals for the Cubs’ David Bote, the Yankees’ Miguel Andujar and Reds prospect Nick Senzel.

Should they not end up bringing in a new third baseman, their internal options include Ian Kinsler (almost exclusively a second baseman in his 13-year career) and Ty France (who hit 22 homers between Double-A and Triple-A last season).

“Were definitely looking at the possibility of an upgrade from outside,” Preller said. “If it doesn’t happen, we’re looking at possibilities from within.”

There will be a different kind of uncertainty in the outfield.

“There’s a lot of (competition) out there,” Myers said with a laugh.

Myers, who has $73 million and four years remaining on his contract, hit .253/.318/.446 with 11 home runs and 25 doubles 83 games in a season interrupted by three stays on the disabled list with arm, oblique and foot injuries.

Renfroe, who turns 27 later this month, led the Padres with 26 home runs in his second season.

Reyes, who debuted in May and won’t be 24 until July, hit .318/.385/.548 with 10 home runs over his final 49 games.

Margot struggled to work his way through a swing makeover and had difficulty on the bases despite his excellent speed. He batted .299/.358/.459 in 54 games between the end of May and early August, but finished with a .245/.292/.384 line, down in every category from his promising rookie season.

Jankowski, 27, stole a team-high 24 bases and had a .332 on-base percentage in a career-high 387 plate appearances while providing almost unmatched defensive coverage.

Cordero, 24, provided multiple highlights and appeared to be making adjustments at the plate regarding his discipline when he was shut down at the end of May with bone spurs in his elbow. In 40 games, he hit seven home runs, including a 489-footer that stood as the second-longest in the majors last season.

There figures to be a lot of mixing and matching in the spring — and even into the season.

Myers, Cordero and Jankowski have played all three outfield spots. Renfroe has played both corners. Reyes is strictly a right fielder and Margot a center fielder.

“We’ve got six really, really good players out there,” Myers said. “I think it’s going to be fun. Going into spring training having that competitiveness in one position is going to bring out the best in everyone. Everyone has to bring it in spring training.”

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